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The next day, I focused on my picnic with Olly and playing at the playground just like usual. I didn’t want to take his tradition away from him, even if I was going to cut it short. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to mind. He fell right to sleep like he usually did, and I had him still napping while I packed up a bag full of everything that I could possibly think of that he might need.
It was amazing just how much stuff someone so little needed. Between the diapers and wipes, extra clothes just in case, toys and books, a blanket, and any number of other odds and ends, getting him ready to go to a party was almost like packing for a trip. I knew I wasn’t going to use everything I put in the bag, but if I left anything behind, inevitably that was going to be the thing that I needed the most.
When his bag was packed, I woke Olly up and gave him a quick bath before getting him dressed and heading for the bakery to pick up the cookies. I hoped that was enough of an offering.
By the time I got to Everett’s cabin, the bonfire was in full swing. The fire itself was huge, as was the crowd gathered around it. I recognized many of the faces from work and waved and smiled as I walked toward the deck where I saw tables arranged with food. I put the cookies down, and as I was heading toward Everett and the guys to say hello, I caught a glimpse of the hot cook from the diner. I really needed to find out his name at some point.
Or not. Maybe that would be better. Knowing his name would be a step closer to knowing him, and that was getting uncomfortably close to letting myself be as attracted to him as I was fighting being.
He was standing off to the side of the fire, holding a stick with a marshmallow speared on the end in one hand, the sleeves of his flannel rolled up. It shouldn’t have looked as hot as it did. Throughout the night, I avoided getting too close to him. The more I was around him, the more I recognized the signs of a crush starting to form, and that was something I didn’t want to even consider.
I had a fantastic time at the bonfire, meeting everyone and watching all the children play together. The food was amazing, and I was happy to see my platter of cookies fit right in. If anything, there might be room for a couple more desserts.
It was especially fun spending time with the wives and girlfriends of the guys from work. They were clearly a close-knit group, but they didn’t hesitate to welcome me into their circle. We talked and laughed, ate dinner, and then toasted marshmallows. Before I even realized how much time was passing, I noticed it was getting late.
Some of the little ones were still going strong, running around and giggling with the dogs, while others were draped across their mothers or fathers or lying on blankets on the grass, asleep. Olly was among those still wound up and running. That didn’t surprise me. He would go until he’d either run himself into the ground or I made him stop. That would be when all the adrenaline would leave him and he’d pass out.
Before that could happen, I started the tour of thanking my hosts and saying good night to everyone. I picked Olly up before starting toward my car. I went a few steps before stopping and turning back. The cook was standing off by himself, and I went up to him quickly.
“Hey,” he said, smiling a bit when he saw me. “I’ve been trying to talk to you all night.”
“You have?” I asked, then shook my head a bit to stop the dreaminess. “It was pretty crowded here tonight. I just wanted to say thank you for the pie. It was really amazing.”
“You liked it?”
“I did. Lemon pie is a particular favorite of mine. And Olly really liked his cookie. So, thank you for both.”
“Finn,” he said when he seemed to notice the hesitant look on my face.
“Finn. I’m Wendy.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Wendy,” he said.
I nodded and took a step back. “You, too. I’m going to head out. Good night.”
I left before he could say anything else and before I started flirting with him. We got home, and I got Olly into bed before I changed into pajamas and toppled into bed myself.
11
FINN
I didn’t have a hangover, so that was good. A lucky break, even. Lord knew I’d had enough when I got home, in a desperate and failing attempt to not think about the logging woman, that I should be seeing double and nursing a headache.
